Minera road closed to try and limit wildfire risk

Mountain Road in Minera is closed until further notice, to avoid the risk of wildfires in the hot weather.

Elsewhere Moel Famau and much of the surrounding heather-clad hills which up make up Clwydian Range & Dee Valley is “tinder dry at the moment” as North East Wales basks in unbroken sunshine and blistering temperatures that has reached as high as 30C at times.

The area attracts around 200,000 visitors each year and officials are asking those heading to the range over the next few days not to light fires or barbecues and “enjoy an ice cream instead.”

There have been several huge gorse and grassland fires across the UK over the past week or so with a fire ongoing on Saddleworth Moor – several days after it began. A second large fire broke out on Thursday night at Winter Hill in Greater Manchester, visible from parts of Wrexham.

Over the last few days 30 properties had to be evacuated in Braichmelyn near Bethesda due to a large forestry fire in the vicinity. Firefighters also attended a large gorse fire in Carmel near Caernarfon. At its height over 40 firefighters were tackling the incident. North Wales Police and local authority staff evacuated approximately 15 nearby properties as the fire is reported to be a mile-long.

Kevin Roberts, Senior Fire Safety Manager, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “It’s too early to determine the exact cause of these fires but we are urging everybody to take extra care when they are out and about in the countryside to help reduce the risk of fire – especially during this exceptionally hot and dry weather.

“In these dry conditions, fires involving grass, bracken and heather can develop extremely quickly, especially in raised winds, and fires can soon get out of control and spread to neighbouring properties or forestry, with the need for us then to attend to extinguish them.

“So if you are out, it is more important than ever in these conditions to make sure that any smoking materials are discarded and extinguished properly. If you are out camping, again make sure that campfires or barbeques are fully extinguished. Better still, avoid open fires altogether in this dry period.

“We have received numerous notifications in relation to these fires and I would like to thank people for acting in a safe and responsible manner.

“We’d also ask people to keep well away from the areas affected to allow firefighters to tackle the fires and for their own safety.

“These fires place tremendous pressure on our resources, with firefighters tied up for a considerable length of time working to bring them under control. Quite often they also happen in areas where access is extremely difficult and water supply is limited.

“Remember – setting fires is a criminal offence and we are actively working alongside North Wales Police to combat deliberate incidents – those found to be responsible will be prosecuted.

“Anyone with information on such crimes is advised to anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”